Vital Fleet Support -
Away from its few shore bases, the Navy simply could not
operate without the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which like its
parent service sent a large proportion of its strength to
the
South Atlantic before
the end of the war - no less than 22 of the 27 ships in
commission. Civilian-manned and flying the Blue Ensign,
the RFA's usually supplied warships underway by Replenishment at
Sea (RAS) techniques:

- Heavy furnace fuel oil for older
ships, diesel and aviation fuels and fresh water were supplied
through hoses

- Dry goods by jackstay and

- Most ships were equipped to handle helicopters for
vertrep, and if needed to provide the RFA's own ASW
screen.

The types of ships,
displacement tons, and helicopters embarked were:

Fleet
replenishment ships supplied
ammunition, food and dry stores:

"Regent",
"Resource"

22,800 tons

Wessex

"Fort
Austin", "Fort Grange"

17,200 tons

Wessex/Sea Kings

"Stromness"
- Stores support ship

14,000 tons

helicopter deck

Fleet
tankers carried all three types of
fuel as well as fresh water, and could
replenish three ships at a time,
including one astern:

"Olmeda",
"Olna" (plus "Olwen"
- did not take part)

36,000 tons

Sea Kings/Wessex

"Tidepool",
"Tidespring"

27,400 tons

Wessex

"Blue
Rover" - one of five small fleet
tankers; also carries dry cargo

11,500 tons

helicopter deck

Support
tankers normally transported
ship and aviation fuel between terminals
and depots, but could replenish the fleet
tankers and directly refuel other ships.
The two classes were considerably
supplemented by civilian tankers:

"Appleleaf",
"Brambleleaf",
"Bayleaf"

26,000 tons

(no flightdeck)

"Pearleaf"
and "Plumleaf" - older ships

26,000 tons

(no flightdeck)

Landing
ship logistics (LSL's) were RO-RO vessels
equipped with bow and stern doors and
ramps for loading and unloading troops
and tanks: